The UK’s new Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle, has taken a progressive approach to artificial intelligence (AI) technology, aiming to integrate AI into government operations and encourage its use in civil servants’ frontline work.[i] This points to the potential for innovation in this area for the UK. However, this comes with a warning from some to recognise the differences between narrow AI and artificial general intelligence (AGI). Narrow AI can be incredibly helpful in supporting peoples work, particularly as we are seeing in the dental profession, however AGI may be unpredictable, and its use should be carefully regulated, monitored, and controlled.i
All clinicians will be aware of the importance of skilled humans in monitoring patients, making diagnoses, and planning treatment – and especially when communicating with patients on a personal level. However, there are a number of ways AI technology can offer valuable assistance in the dental profession, supporting decision making and treatment planning. It’s important to consider the ways this might influence the future of dentistry, and how regulations might have an impact.
Regulating AI in healthcare settings
AI is still relatively new, including in the world of dentistry, and it is evolving rapidly. Projections suggest that AI could contribute $15.7 trillion to the global economy in 2030, in part coming from increased productivity, as well as consumption side effects.[ii] Because it offers such a wide range of potential benefits, it’s important that governments around the world consider ways to embrace AI, whilst also regulating its use to help keep everybody safe – including patients in a dental setting.
The medical device regulator for UK health and social care – the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) – has an important role in keeping patients safe.[iii] As such, the MHRA is currently reforming regulations surrounding medical devices. These reforms include Artificial Intelligence as a Medical Device (AIaMD) products.iii
The regulatory agency acknowledges the increase in innovative devices entering the UK market, particularly AI devices and software in the healthcare sector. They also recognise the potential impact that they have to revolutionise the healthcare landscape, using cutting edge research to improve the ways patient needs are addressed. However, the MHRA also notes that this brings new challenges, and potential risks and safety concerns.iii
Ultimately, the MHRA hopes to strike a balance to protect patient safety and respond to challenges presented by new technology, without creating barriers for innovation.iii
What is the AI Airlock?
As such, the MHRA is undertaking a new project: the AI Airlock. The regulatory sandbox is a world-leader in healthcare, designed to facilitate the safe development and distribution of AIaMDs. Robust processes involved in this project will help to ensure that manufacturers can undertake what is required for their devices to be viable in the real world. A secure partnership between government, regulators, and industry will help to influence future guidance relating to AIaMDs. The collaborative approach promises to enhance collective understanding and produce solutions to new challenges more quickly.
Innovations in dentistry
Whilst it is important to understand the broader landscape of AI and technology innovations, particularly within healthcare, it is also crucial to understand the current conversations specific to AI dentistry. For example, dental patients generally have a positive attitude towards the use of AI. 60.8% of patients expect improved diagnostic confidence, whilst 48.3% anticipate time reduction, and 43% envisage more personalised and evidence-based disease management as a result of AI use.[iv] Clinicians should consider their patients’ attitudes to new technologies which use AI when upgrading their workflows, particularly where it inspires confidence in their patients. It can also be helpful to explain to patients how new equipment works, to get them involved in their care and boost treatment acceptance.
Dental practitioners should also consider the positive impacts that dental AI can have on their own workflows, and those of their team. For example, AI is already assisting dental professionals with clinical record keeping, diagnostic image analysis, and as an adjunct in clinical decision-making.[v] With more research and development being undertaken every day, the future of digital dentistry, and the particular evolution of AI, is bright. It is important to stay up to date of the latest in AI dental tools, and carefully consider where is best to implement these in your own practice.
Author: Alyn Morgan
Alyn Morgan qualified from the University of Leeds School of Dentistry in 1995. He worked in general dental practice for 12 years and undertook his postgraduate training in Endodontics at the Eastman Dental Institute, where he was awarded an MSc with Distinction in 2009.
He worked as the Director of Endodontic CPD at the Eastman for several years and is currently Endodontic Teaching Lead at the Leeds Dental Institute, whilst maintaining a specialist endodontic practice at U Dentistry in Ilkley.
He has presented well over 200 hands-on courses in endodontics, lectured nationally and internationally as a keynote speaker at numerous conferences and study days and acted as a key opinion leader and adviser to several multi-national dental companies.
He is the immediate Past President of the British Endodontic Society, and the co-founder and CEO of a spin-out company from the University of Leeds, Mimetrik Solutions. The company develops innovative clinician-led solutions in the field of digital dentistry, and to date has attracted over £3.5m in grant funding and investment.
[i] Vertict. Labour’s incoming minister for technology outlines plan for AI- enabled government. Accessed July 24. https://www.verdict.co.uk/labours-incoming-minister-for-technology-outlines-plan-for-ai-enabled-government/
[ii] PWC. Sizing the prize. Accessed July 24. https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/issues/data-and-analytics/publications/artificial-intelligence-study.html
[iii] Gov.uk. AI Airlock: the regulatory sandbox for AIaMD. Accessed July 24. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ai-airlock-the-regulatory-sandbox-for-aiamd
[iv] Ayad, N., Schwendicke, F., Krois, J. et al. Patients’ perspectives on the use of artificial intelligence in dentistry: a regional survey. Head Face Med 19, 23 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13005-023-00368-z
[v] Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. Harness the Benefits of Artificial Intelligence. Accessed July 24. https://dimensionsofdentalhygiene.com/article/harness-the-benefits-of-artificial-intelligence
